One week left

Taylor Mayo is a 12 year old girl who has stage 4 breast cancer. She had a doctors appointment yesterday and the doctor said she only had one week to live. Taylor and her family new it was coming so no one really reacted to it. Her doctor wanted to keep her in the hospital for the whole week but Taylor convinced him to let her go for the week to have fun and spend time with her family for the last time.

"I want to fly to Paris," Taylor told her family.

They packed up their bags and flew to Paris just for her. Yes, it was expensive but it is Taylor last week to live so they'll do anything just to see her smile for the last time. She walked around Paris like she was powerful and confident. You would have never known that she will only live for one more week by looking at her confident stance and smile.

"I have always wanted to come to Paris at least once, and now I am finally here," Taylor said with a huge smile on her face.

Taylor and her family stayed there for 6 days.

The last day of living Taylor through a cookout and had all her family and friends with her. She had the biggest smile on her face during the whole thing.

"Taylor, I am going to miss you," one of her friends said crying by her side.
"Do not worry about me," Taylor said. "I will be perfectly fine."

The day went on and people shed their tears and said their goodbyes.

"Taylor are you ready," her mom said.

She took a deep breath and looked around at hr family.
"Yes, I am ready mom," she said. "No more suffering. No more bad days. I will be healed and free so do not cry. I will be just fine in heaven."

Taylor laid down in bed and peacefully went to sleep.

Her mom checked on her in the middle of the night and saw that Taylor was not breathing. She checked her pulse and.. she was gone. Tears rolled down her moms cheeks.
"I love you baby girl," she said smiling. "I will see you soon."

Gold

It is just a normal Saturday for Peter and his wife Annie. The couple gets up in the morning and cleans the house, cut the grass, and tend to the garden. Annie works on the garden while Peter finishes cutting the grass.

Annie starts digging up plants that she wanted to replace for the new season. She was digging when she was stopped by something hard in the ground.

"I wonder what this is," Annie said.
She put the shovel down and started digging with her hands. Pushing the dirt out the way, a shining light flashed in her eyes. Annie reached into the ground and pulled out a nugget; a nugget of gold.

"Peter, Peter," Annie told across the yard. "Look what I found."

Peter rushed over to her side.
"What is it," he asked not paying close attention to what she was holding in her hand.

Annie held her hand up to him. The gold was shining brighter than the sun.

"Is that what I think it is," Peter said.
"It is a nugget of gold Peter," Annie said enthusiastically. "We are rich."

Peter and Annie rushed into their house and sat the gold nugget on the table.

"What are we going to do with it," Annie said.
"What do you mean what are we going to do," Peter said. "We are going to spend it.

Annie looked at him with a puzzled face.

"We do not want to spend it all Peter," Annie said. "We have to use this wisely like for bills and things."

Peter became angry with Annie.
"Why Annie," he said. "We can use this money for whatever we want, and you want to use it for expenses? That is not what I was going for."

"That would be the smart thing to do,"  Annie said.

"Well, I am going to do things my way and spend it on whatever I want," Peter said.

Peter took the nugget of gold and stormed out of the house. Annie did not look worried.

"When all the money is gone, he will realize that he only bought materialistic things that we do not need," she said to herself.

Later on in the day, Peter came in the house with bags hanging from his shoulder and hands.

"Annie, Annie can you help me," he asked.

Annie came down the stairs to see all the bags that he brought in.

"What is all this stuff," she said.
"I figured since we have the money, I would buy you some nice things for a change," Peter said.
"That's nice of you to do that but-," Annie said with a fake grin. "We really can not afford all of this stuff. I know image is probably important but, this is too much."

There were bills from earlier in the day laying on the table. Annie picked them up and handed them to him.

"Priorities come first before luxury Peter," she said walking upstairs.

Peter looked at her.
"She is right," he mumbled to himself.

Annie walk in the room to start folding close when Peter came in.

"You are right Annie," he said. "I just wanted you to feel special and have finer things than what you have now."
Annie looked at him and smiled.

"I feel special everyday waking up to the person that I love the most," she said. "I do not need the fancy clothes, shoes, and cars. That does not defined me or you."

"I am going to take all the gifts back and pay off the bills," Peter said. "Maybe one day we will get to the place where we can buy anything we want."

"Remember what I said", Annie replied. "Luxury is all good, but priorities rain over it."

Dear Santa

Dear Santa,

This is Mone' Jones just writing you a friendly letter and thanking you for spreading the holiday spirit and the spirit of giving every year. I live on the North side of Chicago, Illinois. I am 53 years old. Christmas is around the corner and I just want to as for a little favor. Now I know you don't get a lot of senior letters for Christmas but I just have a little list of things that want.

1. Botox. BADLY!!! I have wrinkles all over my skin. I want botox but it is very expensive so if you can just slip a gift card or some money for it underneath the tree, I will love you forever.

2. A husband- Yes, I know I have a husband but he does not do a thing. So I am asking you to revamp my husband that I have now, or just send me a brand new one. Santa, please put a renewed husband under my Christmas tree!

3. Hair- My hair has been breaking off lately and now i have bald spots. Now, I know I am old but bald spots aren't attractive. So Santa can you do me a favor and get me some hair please.

4. A pimped out ride- I want a ride like the young kids so I can look cool and my grand kids won't look at me weird

This is all I want for Christmas. Not to much to ask from you. Please answer all my wishes Santa. Thank you for all you do.


Love Always,
Mone' Jones

I Didn't Die Yesterday

As a little girl growing up, my family always told me that when I was 10 years old, I would have to get my death date tatooed on my wrist. Well, the time came when I had to get it. We went to the doctors office and they explained to me how they were going to determine my death date. Every famly has their a year where they lose at least 7 people. My families year was n 2013. They analyzed me and asked me questions until they determined the date. The date is 6/12/13.

Years have gone by and I really have not thought abot my death date. it did not seem as though it was really important. I was young so i did not really pay attention or care. It is the year 2014, the year I am suppose to die. There have been seveal deaths that have happened over the lst couple of months. The doctor told m when the day that I am supposed to die comes, I will do everything normal until you fall asleep at night. "Your body will break down as you g to sleep," the doctor said.

A couple of moths have gone by and my family nad I have been loding relatives left and right. We are very saddened that we as a family have to go through that. The month of June and July my mom, sister and brother all died. It is just me and my dad left. We were all we had in this world. A few days later, my dad death date as come. That night he said his goodbyes and gave me a big hug, a kiss and he told me he loved me. About an hour later, he was gone.

A month had rolled on by and now it is my turn. I woke up i the morning so patrified and nervous about how I would die.I started and ended my day the same. Too scared to go to sleep, I stayed up and watched movies. Eventually i fell asleep and thought my life span as come to an end. The next morning I woke up and i thought heaven had a house just like mine. It looked the same, had tvs, the same couch, kitchen, living room, and bed rooms. I walked outside and it looked like the same street I live on with the same exact name. i looked at the day and it says 6/13/13. I did not die yesterday. I was feeled with joy an happiness. I sat down and thought about how it would feel to be in heaven with my family. Now I am pretty much alone and on my own because they all have passed away. I don't understand how myi didnt die. All my other family members did. I might be destined to do something. Something greater then what my family could do, that's probably why they does and I didn't die. Now I am stuck in this world by myself. With no one to talk to, no one to laugh, cry, sleep with. I"m by myself. I wish I would've died.

I can hear your thoughts

Sarah decided to bring her boyfriend home to meet her parents.

"You are going to love them I promise," Sarah said.
"I am not worried about that," her boyfriend said. "I hope they like/love me."
Sarah replied " do not worry about that, they will love you I promise."

Sarah and her boyfriend left there apartment and went to her parents house to eat dinner.

"Ding Dong,"! The doorbell sung
"Who is it", Sarah's mother said.
"It's Sarah", she said.

Her mom opened the door and gave her a big hug.

"Welcome home baby girl," her mom said with a smile.
"Thanks mom, this is my boyfriend James," she said.
"Well hello James, nice to finally meet you," her mother said. "Come on in, it is a little chilly outside."

James and Sarah walks in the house, puts their coats in the closet and sits on the couch right beside each other. Sarah's father walks in the room with a grin.

"My daughter is finally home," her father said giving her a big hug.
"Hey dad, this is James," she said. "My boyfriend."

James looked nervous and his palms and neck started to sweat. He felt butterflies in his stomach. Sarah looked at James, grabbed his hand and held it tight.

"Hello sir, nice to meet you," James said.
"Nice to meet you son," her father said gripping his hand really hard."

Sarah's father walked in the kitchen.

"Do you want to help me on the kitchen James," he said.
"Yes sir, that would be nice,"James said.

Sarah grabbed him and said, "don't worry, he won't bite."
"Thanks for letting me know", he said while he was walking away laughing.

James walked in the kitchen while Sarah's father grabbed a knife and started sharpening it. James look startled. He was scared that he would use this on him.

"Hey Mr.Lawrence, what are you doing," James said.
"Just finishing up the dinner," her father said. "Can you take these rolls and stuff to the table. Tell Sarah and her mom dinner is ready."

James walked out the room and told Sarah and her mom to go to the table. They set everything up, said their prayer, and started to eat.

Sarah's father begin to ask James questions.

"So what are your plans to do in life James," her dad said with a firm voice. "I do not want my daughter with a non achieving guy that will depend on her, that's why I am asking."
"Well sir, I plan to start my own business, and I am in sorts journalism and broadcasting," James said.
Sarah implied, "Yeah dad, he is really thriving in journalism. I should bring one of his articles to show you so you can see how good he is."
"Alright, I want to see your work", her dad replied.

Sarah started smiling.
"He really likes you", she whispered to James.
"How do you know," James said.
"Trust me, I know," she said.

The dinner went on and their were laughs and serious conversing with the father and the boyfriend.
James left the house to go home and Sarah stayed behind.

"Dad, you liked him didn't you," Sarah said.
"I did not say that," he said.
"I know you do dad, I can read your mined," she said. " o was really surprised because normally you do not like anybody, not even our dog."
"Yes I did like him, but that does not mean he isn't gonna be on lockdown by me," he said.

As long as we have your approval we will be alright.

Suprise Package

Early this evening Sarah was waiting at her front door for a package that someone sent her for her sons birthday!

Marcus is turning 18. People are sending gifts on from everywhere for him to open up at his surprise party.

The box arrives at the house. She quickly pushes the box inside a closet right next to the front door.
Marcus pulled up to the house.

"Hey mom," Marcus said.

"Hey sweetie, how was school today?," she said.

"It was good," her son said.

"That's good," Sarah said."We are going out to dinner tonight so why won't you just go freshen up and get ready!"

"Okay," he said.

Marcus quickly goes upstairs to change his clothes. As soon as Marcus gotnup the steps, she got all the duffle bags and put them in the container that's in the trunk. She went back to get the box.

Marcus comes down the stairs.

"Hey mom, I'm ready" he said.

"Alright go ahead to the car and I'll be right there," she said struggling to pick up the box.

"Do you need any help mom," he said. I can pick it up for you.

"Don't worry about it Birthday boy " she said with a smile. "I can handle this box."

"Alright, I'll just be in the car," he said.

She dragged the box out of the closet and tried to pick it up.

As she was walking out the door, the box kept slipping out of her hand. Sarah dropped the box, ran to the car, and opened the hatch to the trunk. She went back to get the box and was struggling. Her son tried to get out the car to help her...

"No son, go back to the car. I don't need help," she said.

She finally got the box to the trunk. They left the house and went to the resturaunt.

As they walked into this dark room, they heard a lot of moving around.

"Mom what is-," he said

"SUPRISE!!!," the guests said.

All his family and friends attended the party for him.

"Wow mom, how did I not know that you were throwing me a party," he said.

"Well, let's just say your friends had a harder time then me,",she said.

The party was going on until it was gift time. Sarah went to the car to get the big box.

"Here you go son," she said.

He opened the box and saw an I phone six, IPad, new laptop, and clothes.

"Your dad wanted to say happy birthday," she said.

His dad walks in the room. Marcus ran up to him and gave him a big hug.

He said "This is the best birthday present you can ever give me, my dad."

Magical Golden Box

Every weekend, I go over my grandmothers house to help her with cleaning the house. This weekend she wants me to clean out the attic. 

"Since there is a lot of things in the attic, I will come up and help you as soon as I am finished washing these dishes," my grandmother told me.

I walked up stairs to the attic where I saw this massive mess. My grandmother walked up right after me.

"Whew, we have some work cut out for us grandmother," I said.

"'Yeah I know," she replied. "I will start on one side and you will start on the other so it won't seem like a big task."

I put on my music and began to work on my side. Going through everything, I spotted a gold box sitting in the corner next to a black bag. I picked it up and almost dropped it because it was so heavy. 

"Wow," I said to myself. "Grandma what is this box."

My grandmother turned around.

"Oh my goodness," she said with a smile. "I have been looking for that box for years."

I gave her the box so she can see it. My grandmother sat it on the table next to her and began to admire its beautiful features. 

"What is it grandma," I asked while staring at the gold intricate things on the outside of the box .

"It is a long story baby," my grandmother replied. "Sit down, it is about time to talk about this anyway.

She began talking about how she discovered the box.

"I found this box when I was about your age at my Aunt Nina's house," my grandmother siad.

"What did she tell you about this box grandma," I asked.

"She told me that it was a magical box," grandmother said. "A long time ago, my great-great grandfather supposedly found this box laying on the side of the road. Back then, they did not have that much money. So when he saw that box, he thought he could become richer than what he was then. He picked it up and it was really heavy. He could barely hold it up."

"Where did he go with the box grandma," I asked.

"He took it home to his mom and dad and they all opened it up together," she said. "In the box they found jewelry made out of gold. His father told him to not be selfish and give his mother and sisters jewelry so that is what he did. He gave them three pieces of jewelry. That jewelry is still in our family today. We pass them on to generations below us. Now it is your turn to wear the jewelry.

 Grandma pulled out the three pieces of jewelry for me.

"Wow grandma, this is gorgeous,"I said.

"I know sweetie," she said. "Keep this until you have you have a grandchild that is your age. Pass it down to her.

I will never forget the day I was awarded the finest jewelry, just for cleaning an attic.

Screaming No MEAT!

Jada and Kaylon walk into Central Park everyday at their lunch break. There is a Starbucks coffee right on the corner of 5th and 6th avenue that they both go to. Jada and Kaylon walk through the Park and sit on the same bench everyday. Today though, was just a little different.

Jada and Kaylon walk to Starbucks like every lunch break, and they went to the bench in the park. They got to the bench when they saw an older looking man standing on top of the bench with signs in his hand.

"What is going on," Kaylon said while she was walking towards the bench.

The two of them reached the bench. The man standing on top had on a bodysuit with meat on it. He also had gloves on his hands and a knife in his right hand. Kaylon and Jada backed up from the bench to see the signs.

"Why does he have on a meat suit," Jada asked.

The signs in his hand says"No Meat Or I'll Die". Jada and Kaylon were frightened.

"Should we talk to him about it," Kaylon asked.
"I think we should," Jada said.n "He should not kill himself over a piece of meat."

They both walked up to the man, frightened that he might swing with his knife.

"Hey, sir," Jada said quietly. "Sir, can I talk to you."

The man looked down at Jada and Kaylon and got down from the bench.

"What do you all want," he said. "I am in the middle of protesting."
"Why are you holding a knife in your hand," Kaylon said. That is dangerous."
He turned around and looked at the girls, "I do not mean to scare or harm anyone. I just wanted to protest against people eating meat."

Kaylon and Jada sat down and explained to him that eating meat is not so bad and that people have other opinions in this world. Some people may agree with him and some may not. The man understood what they were saying and thanked them for talking to him.

Everyday Kaylon and Jada sit on that same bench, they are reminded of the man in the meat suit with a knife in his hands.

First bad day

The Johnson family has never had a bad day.They always have everything together. Nothing goes wrong in there lives. No one has been sick, failed a class, made a B in a class. The parents have never been layer off or fired. The children make A's in every class and never got in disciplinary trouble. Today though, will be different.

The Johnson family woke up this morning but something was different. Normally the grandmother gets up early in the morning and makes coffee. The aroma feels the whole house. She would call into each room and tell them to get ready for school and work. Their dog would come upstairs and nudge everyone out of bed. This morning, there was no coffee smell, no calling into the rooms, and no dog. The mother ran downstairs to see what was going on. She turned the corner into the kitchen and saw the grandmother laying down in the couch. She looked pale. The grandmother had on a rob with rollers in her head. She had tissue box and a trash can right beside her.

"Mama, what's wrong," the mother said to the grandma.
"I'm, I'm," the grandmother said hesitating. "I'm sick.

The mother looked at her in disbelief.

"What do you mean sick," the mother asked.
"I'm ill," the grandmother said. I feel weak. "I woke up thus morning puking everywhere in my room."

The Johnson family does not keep medicine around the house because no one gets sick. The mother didn't know what to do so she told the grandmother to put on some clothes and head to the hospital.

Normally, the mother takes the kids to school because the dad leaves early to go to work. Now that the mom had to take grandma to the hospital, the dad had to take the kids to school. The kids ran downstairs like they normally do just to see their father looking stunned. He was holding a note from someone in his hand.

"Kids, daddy has to take you to, to school today," he said astonishment.

"Why are you taking us to school dad," the kids asked. "Where is mom and grandma?"

The father didn't want to tell the kids that their grandmother is sick. He figured that they would not take the news well.

"Kids grandma is sick," he said.

"Sick, what is sick," they said. "We never get sick.

"I know but out of the blue, grandma did," the father said. "That means I have to take you to school so hurry up before we are all late."

They got in the car and rushed to school.The kids were running into the school house when the bell rung. Unfortunately, they were hving a lockout that day and the kids were sent to ISS. They were both sobbing down the hallway as they approached the room.

"You have to stay in here for the next two days," the principal said.

"There is no way we are going to make it through these two days," the daughter told the principal.

"Well maybe you will be on time next time," the principal responded.

They both held eachothers hand and walk into the dark room. Crying their eyes out, they sat down in to little desk right beside eachother. They tried to whisper but the ISS teacher told them to seperate and not talk. The kids were scared for their lives.

While the kids were in ISS for the first time, their father was speeding to work. He was coming down the street when all of a sudden he hears a clash right behind him. He didn't want to turn around to see it but he did anyway. Someone hit him from behind. It took the police an hour to get to the site to fix it. Finally they showed up and sent him on his way. The father was one hour late to work.

 He walked into his building and saw the boss waiting in his office. He looked angry. The father mustered up enough strength to walk into hiss office.

"Hello, boss I know you've been looking for me," the father said.
"Where have you been," the oss asked. An hour late for work, really?"

 The father sat down in the chair across from his boss.

"I know sir," the father said. "This is my first time being late. I proise it will not happen again."
"Ypu got that right," the boss replied.
"What do you mean," the father asked.
"Do you know what you missed today," the boss asked curiously.

The father got up and looked on the calender to see that he missed the biggest meeting of the year for the company. He was suppose to run the meeting and organize it.

"I totslly forgot, I'm so sorry," the father said.
"That is not enough," the boss replied. "You are fired. I can not believe you missed the meeting. We did not seal the deal. They thought the presentation and the set up was unorganized. Well you know why is was unorganized?"
Me," the father answered.
"Yeah, you," the boss said. I am angry. That was the biggest deal we had ever had right in the palm of our hands and because of you, it's gone. So that means you are gone. Pack your stuff up. I want you out of herre in 2 hours so hurry up.

The father looked stunned. He felt numb.

"Fired, what, how, I have never gotten fired before for anything," he said to himself.

Feeling lifeless, he went to get empty cardboard boxes and started to pack up his things. After he packed up his things, he glance around the office and broke down in tears. The father grabbed hos things and swiftly walked out of the office.

The father went home and saw his wife helping the grandmother in.

"What's going on here," he says as he is rushing towards them.
"Mama has the," the mother says.
"The what," the father asked.
"The flu" the mother said hesitantly.

The father looked at the grandmother and tears rolled down his face.
"Oh no," he said. "Mama, are you gonna be okay?"
"The doctor said yes," the grandmother said. "I just need to get rest and a lot of fluids in my body."
"Why are you home so early," the mother asked.
"I got laid off today," the father said hesitantly.

He started to tear up as they both walked into the house.

"I was late from dropping of the kids from school and missed the most important meeting of the year," the father said.
"Oh no, I'm so sorry for that babe," the mother said.

She went to pick up the phone and called the kids school.

"Hello, I am the mother of Jayden and Kayden Johnson," the mother said. "I just wanted to see if my kids are in class."
"Your kids are not in class ma'am," the secretary said. "They were late to their class when we had a lockout. They were sent to ISS for the day and they have OSS tomorrow and Friday.
"Oh gosh, okay thank you," the mother said while hanging up. "Seems like today is just not our day."

The family went to sit in the living room.

"That is why we have to cherish our good days," the grandmother said.

The Johnson family sat their and laughed it off.

"We can afford one bad day I guess," the father said.

New Found Home..

(Based of a true story.)

One cold December night, my husband and I decided to take a walk through our neighborhood to enjoy the scenery. This Christmas we came upon a family of 5 wrapped up in old scarfs and blankets trying to keep warm. They were behind a tree near our park. The family looks like they haven't bathed, eaten, or slept in weeks. Mark, my husband, went over there to greet them.

"Hello," Mark said. "Are you all okay?"
The mother replied "Yeah, yeah." We are fine.

I walked over where Mark was standing.

"Are you sure?," I asked
"Yes, we are fine," she said.

Mark walked away and called me over.

"We have a open room in our basement for them to-," he said
"No, I don't know these people," I said firmly.
"Look nothing is going to happen I promise," Mark said. "They'll just be there for one night.
"Alright, fine," I said. "Just make sure they know that this is only for one night, nothing more."

Mark jogs back over to where the family is resting to tell them the news.

"Hey, umm-," Mark stutters. "We have a room in our basement that is brand new, has furniture, food, and a kitchen. You all can stay there for tonight."

"Thank you so much," the mother said.

She gathered the whole family and all of them walked to our house.

"I hope nothing happens Mark," I said.
"Look, I promised nothing will happen, it'll be okay," he said.

We arrived to the house and showed them the basement and the bathroom that they will use.

"Alright so, we will leave you all down here," Mark said. "I'll just shut the door up the stairs so you all will have your own privacy."
"Thank you so much for this," the mother said.
"No problem," Mark and I said.

We both went upstairs to cut off the light, close the door and go to bed.

"Goodnight Mark," I said.

In the middle of the night I woke up from a horrible dream.

"What's wrong," Mark said.
"I just had a horrible dream," I just said. "They wouldn't leave, they stayed here and didn't leave at all."
"Who wouldn't leave,"Mark asked.
"The family, the family wouldn't leave," I said. They just stayed here and tortured us." They have to go in the morning, seriously."
"When we wake up tomorrow, I will tell them to go, I promise," Mark said. "You are worried about nothing. Just go to sleep, I will take care of everything."

I woke up the next morning and heard silence. I went downstairs to the kitchen and saw Mark making breakfast and coffee before he goes to work.

"Good morning," Mark said with a big smile on his face.
"Morning," I said. "It is very quiet in the house thus morning.
"There gone, you do not have to worry about it," Mark said laughing. "I told them that they had to leave, I fed them breakfast and let them get their stuff together before they left. They will not be coming back."
"Well that was nice of you,"I said with a smirk on my face.
"I know," Mark said. "Well I'm off to work now. I'll see you when I get home."

He gave me a hug and a kiss before picking up his brief case and suit jacket to leave the house.

"Alright, see you later," I said.

I went upstairs to take a shower and get ready for work.

"I hope they don't come back thinking that they stay here now," I said to myself.

Before living the house, I turned the alarm on and locked all doors and windows. I get to work and started doing my project when one of my coworkers/ next door neighbor came over to talk to me.

"So, I saw some unfamiliar faces go into your house yesterday," my neighbor said.
"Yes you did," I said. "We helped a family out that was in need."
"In need of what," my neighbor asked.
"A place to stay," I said.
"So they are staying there for long term," she replied.
"Oh no, they were just there for lastnight," I responded.
"You sure," she asked.
"What you mean," I said.
"I mean, normally when homeless people find a home, they go back to that place," she implied.
"Well they won't do that, will they," I asked.
"I heard a story one time where a man and his wife let a homeless family stay at their house for a night and it went wrong," she said. "They showed up to their house every single day. Then when the couple would not let them in, they just broke in their house when they were gone and stole their stuff. That's why, I just give them money and walk away. Those people are desperate. Trust me, I was there. You will do anything for somewhere to stay. Even if you did a crime."
"Oh my god,"I said in fear. "What if that happens to us. What if I was home by myself and they decide to break in my house."
"You just need to watch your surroundings," she said.

After that, I was paranoid. The clock kept ticking, ticking, ticking as I was waiting to go home.
"I pray no one broke into my house,"  I said to myself.

Five o'clock approached and I rushed out of the building to my car. As I was approaching the house, thoughts were just flying through my head. I pulled up in my driveway and looked around the house to find nothing. No one was there, no windows were broken, just nothing. I was relieved.

I opened the door and walked in the house, my husband oukled up right after me and came in the house.

"The house has not been touched," I said.
"Yeah I know," Mark said. "I told you nothing was going to happen."

The night came and we both went to sleep. At 12 am, I heard Boise downstairs. I rolled over to see if Mark was downstairs getting him a late night snack but he was still in bed.

"Hey Mark, Mark," I whispered to him.

I nudged him to see if he would get up.

"Yeah, why are you up," He said.
"I hear noise downstairs, I do not know what it is," I said.
"I'll go check it out," Marcus replied.

He walks downstairs to see what's going on.

"What are y'all doing hear," he yells.

I creep down the stairs so I would not make a lot if noise. I turned the corner and there they were, the homeless family.

Get out my house," I said. "Now!"
"We told you that this was only for one night, and that was last night," Mark said.

The family rushed out of the house.

"You said you had it handled right," I said.
"Do not give me that crap," Mark said. "I told them not to come back but they did anyway."
"This is the first and only time," I said. "It happens again, I am calling the police."

The next day, I went to work like normal and started to worry again about the homeless family.

"What if they break in my house again," I said to myself.

My neighbor/coworker came up to my cubicle again today.

"Is everything okay," she asked
"Umm- yeah why," I asked.
"Well I was let to work today as usual," she began. "I saw the police outside of your house in the way here. I did not know if you knew about it or not.

I panicked.

"No, oh no," I said frantically. "I have to go".

I rushed out of the building to my car and went straight home.

My phone rings.

"Hello," I answered.

"Hey honey," Mark replied. "I called your job and your boss said that you had to leave for an emergency. What's going on?"

"Mark, out next door neighbor so police at our house after we were gone," I said.
"What?," Mark asked.
"Police were at our house," I said. "I'm on my way home now." Mark said.

I pulled up to the house and saw my front door busted open. mark pulled in right after me. We both ran into the house.

The police department were still there.

"What is going on," I asked the police.

"We got a call saying someone broke into your house," the police officer said. "When we approached the house, there was no one here."
 

I looked back at Mark with tears rilling down my face.
 

"We know who did this," Mark said. "We just don't know how to describe them."
 

I looked at the police officers.

"Look, I'm warning you," I said. "If you all do not catch them, I will take matters in my own hands."
"Ma'am we do not want you to do that,"the policemen said. "That is why we are going to handle it."
"Alright, I trust you," I replied. "Just remember what I said."

After an hour of searching for fingerprints and evidence, the police left our house.

"I'm not going to work tomorrow," I told Mark.
"Okay, I have to make some rounds in the morning, and I'll be back home", Mark replied.

The morning came. I woke up to fix me some breakfast and realized that we did not have anymore breakfast food. Mark had already left the house, so I decided to go to the grocery store. Before leaving the house, I looked around the house hoping that they will never come back.I turned on the alarm, and activated it on my phone. I get in the car and realized that I forgot my wallet in the house. I jumped out of the car, went into the house to grabbed my wallet and I left.

 

I was in the grocery store when I got the notification that my alarm was turned off at home.

 

"Since the police does not want to handle it, I will," I said to myself.

 

On the way home I called my husband.

 

"Hey, I am on my way home from the grocery store," I said. "I got a notification saying that the alarmhas been turned off. The police did not handle it so I am taking matters into my own hands like I said."

"Please do not do this," Mark said. "Ypu can be in serious danger."

"We have dealt with this for the past 4 days Mark," I said."This needs to be handled, now!"

"I am own my way, please be careful," Mark said.

 

I pulled up to the house and saw our front door cracked open.

 

"Lord, please protect me," I prayed.

 

I creeped in the door and saw the mom and the family siting on my couch. Trying to muster up as much strength as possible, I marched into the room.

 

"What the hell are you doing in my house, again," I said with power.

"Oh, you are home," the mother said.

"Yeah, I'm home at my house where I live, and where you have to leave," I said.

 

the mother looked around at her family and my house.

 

"We are not going anywhere," the mother said.

 

The family looked like they had new clothes on.'

 

"Wait, where did you get these clothes from," I asked."You stole them right?"

"Oh, you really thought we were homeless didn't you," the mom said.

 

The family laughed.

 

"We are not homeless," the mother said and she pulled out a gun. "You are about to be."

"Wait, what are you doing," I said.

"See, this was just a scam," the mother said. "Now you have to abide by my rules or you will just die. Go to the phone."

I went to the phone like she asked.

"Call your husband." she said.
"For what," I asked.
"I said call him, I will tell you everything you have to tell him," she said.

I called him on his cell phone.and he answered.

"Hello," he said.
"Hey, it's me," I aid in a soft voice.
"What's up," he asked.

I looked over my shoulder to the mother to see what she wanted me to say.

"Tell him that we are holding you hostage," she said. "We need $100,000 dollars in our hands in the next 3 hours or," the mother said.
"Or what," I asked.
"You'll die," she said.

I picked up the phone to talk to my husband.

"Hey, i'm being held hostage in the house by that family," I said in a calm voice.
"What, I am own my way," Mark said.
"You can't come," I told Mark. "You have to get $100,000 dollars in their hands in the next 3 hours or they will kill me."

I can hear Mark crying in the background.

"I have to go now," I said. I love you.

I hung up the phone and turned around to see where the mother went. She was standing right behind me with the gun in her hand.

"I hope Mark follows through," I said to myself.
"Go to the back room," the mother demanded me to do.

Slowly, I walk to the back room like she told me. With my hands in the air, she nugded me in the room and closed the door. It was dark and hot in that room. There was no air conditioning, windows or fans in there. I started to hypervenilate. Sweat was pouring down my face as I started to black out. Before I closed my eyes, police knocked down the door and came in to get me. They walked me out of the room where I saw the family in handcuffs.

"Where is my husband," I asked. Where is Mark?"
"Ma'am, your husband was shot and the ambulance took him to the hospital," the policemen said.
"Take me to the hospital now," I demanded.
"You are still hyperventilating," the police said.
"I do not care," I said. That is my husband and I need to be there with him. Now!"

The policement took me to the hospital where he was laying on the bed.

"Babe, can you hear me," I said.

His eyes were closed and his face was pale.

"I am here with you through it all," I said.

I turned around for a split second when I heard a soft voice call mty name.
"Meghan," he sid quietly.

I looked at him with a smile.

"Hey Mark," I said. "Everything is going to be okay. I am here now."

A few days later they released him from the hopsital. I ttook him a long time to recover but he did. Now we are back to our regular schedule. Just in a different house.
 

 

Two Old Men Sitting On the Park Bench

Every day, there is always two old men, Bernard and Bernie, sitting on a park bench outside of the public library.

"For the past 30 years we have sat on this bench ," the old men said.
"This bench has been through every eventful memory and story with us.

A young lady decided to sit on the end of park bench.

"Hello young lady, what is your name," Bernard said.
"My name is Tammy,"she said.
"Do you know what bench you are sitting on Tammy," he asked curiously.
"No I don't,"she said. "Who's bench is it Mr.-"
"Bernard," he said. "Its is called the Bernard and Bernie bench. It is our bench. The bench we laughed, cried, and argued on for the past 30 years."

"So everyday, both of you come and sit here," Tammy asked.

Bernie looked at her and laughed. 

"We talked about everything on this bench," Bernie said. "We talked about our good days and bad days. Our ups and downs."

"For example, I remember a day where we both were having bad days," Bernard said. "It was a day that I will never forget."

"Tell me, I want to know," Tammy said.

"Well, we both were having awful days," Bernard began. "I told Bernie that I wanted to give up because things were getting worse. That year, my wife was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer. The doctor told us that more than likely, she would not survive the disease. It tore me down to the core. After the doctors appointment, I dropped my wife off at home and came straight to the bench. I needed the bench talk that day. Quite frankly, it worked. "

"Yes it did for both of us," Bernie said. "My day was not as bad as Bernard's but, it was pretty bad. I went into work and saw all of my stuff packed up in my office. Of course I am worried, so I walk into my office and see a note on top of my stuff. The note said I'm sorry, but we have to let you go. I got fired that day through a note. There was no meeting, my adviser was not there, my boss was not there either. I grabbed my stuff and left. Guess where I went."

"Straight to this bench, The Bernie and Bernard bench," Tammy said.

"You are absolutely right," Bernard said. "We both met here at the same exact time. I saw Bernie's face and he saw mine."

"We knew from each others faces that we really needed to talk," Bernie said. "I started talking and tears rolled down my eyes because I didn't know what to do."

"The best part of having a best friend, you get a lot of good advice from them and this was one of those days," Bernard said.

"Bernie gave me some advice that I thank him for everyday," said Bernard. "He told me to take her by her hand and hold her through it all. That is what I did and now she is about to be a 9 year survivor of breast cancer. I thank Bernie for the talk and this bench."

"Bernard gave me great advice too,"Bernie said. "He told me, when one door closes, god open another. God opened up a new door for me 2 weeks after that. It is a better job than I had before. So for me, I thank Bernard and this bench."

"Wow," Tammy said.

"This bench means more than just a bench to us," Bernie said. "It symbolizes a safe haven for us. A place where we can come to express and talk about our life. I will always love this bench."

"This will always be our bench," Bernard said. "The Bernie and Bernard bench."